On June 1, 2011, The Minnesota Atheists filed an amicus curiae brief in the Minnesota Appellate Court on behalf of three same-sex Minnesota couples who are suing the government for the right to get legally married in Minnesota. At least two of these six individuals are atheists. The Appellate Court accepted the brief on June 20, 2011.

The case is titled Benson, et al. v. Alverson. In their complaint, the
plaintiffs charged that, “By denying the Plaintiff couples the right to
marry solely because they are of the same sex, Minnesota law violates
the due process, equal protection, freedom of conscience, and freedom of
peaceful association provisions contained in Article I, Sections 7, 2,
and 16 of the Minnesota Constitution.”

They also asked the judge to declare that the 1997 Minnesota Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as “only between persons of
the opposite sex,” to be unconstitutional under the Minnesota
Constitution. For more information about this case or to download
copies of the legal documents, please visit marrymeminnesota.org.

Highlights of the amicus curiae brief filed by the Minnesota Atheists include:

• With no valid secular reason to deny same-sex couples equal civil
marriage rights, the government is enshrining one particular religious
belief (theocracy), when it should not be basing laws on any religious
beliefs.

• In a Minnesota Senate Committee hearing on April 29, 2011, six
religious leaders used religion as a reason to oppose same-sex marriage.

• “Ex-gay” ministries such as the Christian group Exodus and Jewish
group JONAH believe homosexuality is “outside of God’s will” and attempt
to change gay people’s sexual orientations.

• The American Psychiatric Association and the American Medial Association support legal recognition of same-sex unions.

Minnesota Atheists, a positive atheist organization actively promoting
secular values through participation in public affairs, educational
programs and hosting the only live atheist radio talk show in the state:
Atheists Talk, Sundays, 9:00-10:00 a.m., KTNF AM 950. Minnesota
Atheists is Minnesota’s oldest, largest, and most active atheist
organization. Additional information can be found at
www.mnatheists.org.